Front spring suspension for vehicles.



1. w. TIMM. FRONT SPRING SUSPENSIQN FOR VEHICLES. APPLICATION FILED JULY13,1918.

1 2%,? Patentd Dec. 24, 1918.

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FRONT SPRING SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13. \918.

Patented .Oes. 24, 1918.

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JOHN W. TIM'M, 0F MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

FRONT SPRING SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES.

a maximum freedom of angular movement of the front vehicle in travelingover rough roads so that all shocks or jars which would otherwise betransmitted to the body of the vehicle will be effectively absorbed bythe suspension springs.

It is another and more particular object of the invention to provide incombination with a branched or divided front wheel axle, transverselyextending leaf springs flexibly connected at their extremities to the vopposite sides of the vehicle frame or chassis, and means for centrallymounting the springs upon the spaced portions of the axle for rockingmovement, so that the body of the vehicle will at all times remain in asubstantially horizontal plane irrespective of the degree of verticalangular movement of the wheel axle.

And it is a further general object'of my ..invention to provide a frontspring suspension for vehicles, the several parts of which are of simplemanufactured at relatively small cost, while the device as a whole willbe reliable and serviceable for the purpose in view and capable ofadaptation to the various types of motor vehicles without necessitatingradical alterations in'the construction thereof.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in theimproved construction, combination and relative arrangement of theseveral parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, subsequentlyclaimed and illustrated in drawings in which similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts through out the several views,and wherein Figure 1 is a front end elevation illustrating oneembodiment of my improved front spring suspension Specification ofLetters Patent.

in Front Spring Sus construction and may be the accompanyingPatcntedDec. 3M8.

Application filed July 13, 1918. Serial No. 244,746.

Fig; 2 is a top plan view; Fig. '3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 ofFig; 2; Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 42-4: of Fig. 3 and Fig. 5is a side elevation, the wheel being removed. I Referring in detail tothe drawings, 5 designates the spaced side rails or bars'of the frame orchassisof a motor vehicle. bars 5 are connected to each other in spacedrelation to their forward ends by the transversely extending, downwardlybowed or clll'Vtd bar (3. The extreme forward ends of the bars 5 arealso connected to each other by a transversely disposed channel bar 7,which is suitably fixed to the under sides of thebars 5.

8 designates the front wheel axle, which is constructed with spaced,longitudinally extending branches or portions 9 disposed in the samehorizontal plane, said branched portions of the axle graduallyconverging toward each other at their opposite ends and being integrallyconnected and formed to provide the vertically disposed wheel knucklereceiving yokes 10. The axle bar is preferably of the conventionalE-beam type, as clearly seen in Fig. 3 of the draw ings. The frontvehicle wheels W maybe 'mountedinthenxle yokesIOin any convenaresecurely riveted in the ends of the transverse channel bar 7.

Upon the branched portions 9 of the wheel axle, and at the centerthereof, a casting 16 is seated at its ends and securely riveted orbolted to the respective branches of the axle, as 'seen at 17. Thiscasting is formed with spaced pairs of upwardly projecting apert-urcdcars 18 and between the ears in each pair, the upper face of the casting16 is convexly curved, as at 19, transversely of the casting. Theseconvex faces of the cast- These likewise provided beire i of leafsprings connected to the? convex front ing 16 provide rocker hearingsfor the spring seats 20, each of which is likcwlse provided with aconvexly curved bottom fat-e21 in opposed contacting relation with faces19. These spring seats are disposed between the spaced pairs of ears 18and at their opposite ends are formed upon their side faces with thelaterally projecting lugs 22, each of which is provided with avertically disposed threaded opening to receive the lower threaded endof a bolt These holts extend upwardly at the sides of the respectiveleaf springs 11' and are engaged through openings in the opposite endsof the clamping plates 24,

which are forced into tight, clamping en gagement upon the upper surfaceof the leaf springs by means of the nuts 25 threaded upon the bolts 23.

The rocker seats 20 for the leaf springs are each provided with acentral, transverse opening to receive a common pivot bolt 26, whichextends through the aperturcd cars 18 formed upon the casting 16. Bymounting the leaf springs upon the divided or branched axle in thismanner, it will be seen that the axle is capable of relatively greatfreedom of vertical angular movement occasioned by the vehicle wheelsencountering obstructions or entering depressions in the road surface vTo the front side of the transverse frame bar 6, which constitutes asupport for the rear end of the motor and at the center thereof,asoi'ket casting 27 securely riv-. eted. This socket receives thespherical head "38' formed upon the integrally connected rear ends ofthe convergontly disposed radius rods 29, the respective rods beingpivotally connected at their-forward ends, as shown at 30, to the rearside of the front, wheel axle in spaced relation to the opposite endsthereof. These radius rods assist in holding the vehicle axle in properrelation to the frame of the machine and prevent twisting or turningmovement of the axle in a horizontal plane.

From the foregoing. description, taken in connection with theaccompanying draw 1ngs, it is believed that the construction, manner ofoperation and several advantages of the invention will be clearly andfully understood. The transversely arranged pair the front axle of thevehicle in the manner aboveexplained, will effectively absorb all roadshocks or jars and likewise operate to maintain the body of the-vehiclein a horizontal plane in the vertical angular or tilting movements ofthe wheelaxle. The several parts of. the device are simple inconstruction and exceedingly strong and "durable, so that they are notliable to brealcor easily get out of order. T he divided or branchcdconstruction of the wheel a'xle affords a maximum of tional type offront wheel axle. The several the vehicle body,

, said seat, said seat'and "the 'trated one embodiment of strength withcorresponding increased rosistance to vertically or horizontally appliedstressesf This axle may be constructed at nominal cost and substitutedforthe conven;-

other elements may also be produced at relatively small cost and can bereadily assembled and applied to various types of motor vehicles withoutrequiring any radical changes in the construction thereof. While I havereferred to the use of a pair of the leaf springs, it will be manifestthat, if desired, a single one of said springs may be 4 used upon lightroad vehicles and the conventional form of straight front axle employedin connection therewitln It is, ac cordingly,-to be'understood thatwhile in accompanying drawings'I have illusmy invention which I havefound to be very satisfactory in practical use, the device isnevertheless susceptible of many modifications in the form, proportionand relative arrangement of its several parts and I, therefore, reservethe privilege of adopting all such legitimate changes as may be fairlyembodied within. the spirit and scope of the invention .as claimed.

Iclaim: v 5 1. In combination with a vehicle body and supporting axletherefor, a transversely disposed leaf spring, flexible connections be-'tween the opposite ends of said spring and rocker seat centrally con-,nected to the leaf spring, to the wheel axle and pivotally connected tohearing having opposed convex rocker'faces.

-52, In combination with a vehicle body'and supportin axle therefor,

posed lea spring, flexible. connections be tween the opposite ends ofsaid spring and thevehicle bod'y,'a rocker seatcentrally-connected tothe leaf spring, a bearing casting centrally secured upon the axle andhaving 110 pair of transversely disposedleaf springs, a, 120

common mean flexibly connecting'the springs at their ends to the vehiclebody,'a'

bearing centrally secured upon the spaced portions of the axle, and arocker seat fixed to each spring and mg. I I 4. In combination with avehicle bod and supporting axle therefor, said axle "having spacedlongitudinally extending portio'nsiya,

pair of transversely disposed leaf springs, 130

and a bearing fixed a transversely dis i engaged upon said bearaney-re?a common means flexibly connecting the springs at their ends to thevehicle body, a hearing ventrally secured upon the spaced portions ofthe axle, said bearing being provided with spaced pairs of upstandingears and convex rocker faces between Said ears, spring seats pivotallymounted between the respective pairs of cars and each having a convexface opposed to one convex face of the bearing, and means for centrallysecuring" the respective leaf springs upon said seats.

In combination with a vehicle body and supporting axle therefor, a. leafspring interposed between the vehicle body and the axle and connected atits ends to said body, and means pivotally connecting the axle to theintermediate portion of the spring to permit of the angula 1' verticalmovement of the axle relative to said spring.

6. in combination with a ehicle body and supporting aXle therefor, aleaf spring inter posed between the vehicle body and axle and connectedat its ends to said body, and means lifted to said spring intermediateof its ends and mounted upon the axle for rocking movement.

7. In combination with a vehicle body and supporting axle therefor, apair of leaf springs arranged in spaced parallel relation, means commonto both springs for connecting the ends of the springs to the vehiclebody, and a common pivotal connection between said springs intermediateof their ends andthe vehicle axle 8. In combination with a Vehicle bodyand supporting axle therefor, a pair of leaf springs arranged in spacedparallel relation, means common to both springs for connecting the endsof the springs to the vehicle body a bearingfixed to the axle, androckernnembers secured on the springs and engaged upon said bearing Intestimony whereof I hereunto attix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN W. TIMM.

Witnesses:

MILTON Tnon'rims, HOMER W. POWELL.

